Good morning friends! Believe it or not, here’s Part II of the interesting 48 hours that I wanted to share. As I mentioned, it is in stark contrast to what I experienced a mere 24 hours ago and that is why I found it so interesting…I do not mean to be offensive, but it was just completely the other end of the socio-economic spectrum in such a short period of time that it was almost hard to believe that it really occurred.
I left Gina, my new homeless friend, to head back home to prepare for my visit with an old friend. Taci and I have been friends since the early 80’s when I lived in Pensacola, Florida. She was coming to the D.C. area for a pageant so that was close enough to warrant a visit from me. I was eager to see her regardless of what we did! As my close friends know, it is typical for me to just visit and not really care what the actual activity or event our visit might center around. So, I packed a small bag and drove up to Vienna to catch the Metro into D.C.
I arrived in D.C. and strolled several blocks to find the elegant Washington Plaza Hotel on Thomas Circle. As it turned out, the World Pageant was going on and as I entered the lobby I found myself in the company of tons of beautiful young girls in platform shoes. The girls had been there all week going through numerous interviews and portions of the event. And so it began, I was thrust into the glamorous world of pageantry.
I left Gina, my new homeless friend, to head back home to prepare for my visit with an old friend. Taci and I have been friends since the early 80’s when I lived in Pensacola, Florida. She was coming to the D.C. area for a pageant so that was close enough to warrant a visit from me. I was eager to see her regardless of what we did! As my close friends know, it is typical for me to just visit and not really care what the actual activity or event our visit might center around. So, I packed a small bag and drove up to Vienna to catch the Metro into D.C.
I arrived in D.C. and strolled several blocks to find the elegant Washington Plaza Hotel on Thomas Circle. As it turned out, the World Pageant was going on and as I entered the lobby I found myself in the company of tons of beautiful young girls in platform shoes. The girls had been there all week going through numerous interviews and portions of the event. And so it began, I was thrust into the glamorous world of pageantry.
I scanned the lobby and restaurant area in search of my old friend. I looked past tons of well-manicured pageant girls from each state in search of a familiar face. Taci is such a fun and dynamic person and every time we get together is an adventure. I expected this time to be no exception and she did not disappoint. She is an amazing hair stylist and meets some interesting people in the course of her profession. Obviously, I found her and the adventure began.
Taci quickly explained that we would be meeting some friends for dinner and then attending the evening gown competition. That was fine by me as any friend of hers is a friend of mine! We spent the afternoon walking around D.C. and catching up over lunch. It’s always great to spend time with trusted old friends and amazing that after a 30 year separation we could pick right up where we left off. Now, that’s a good friendship…but, I digress…
Taci quickly explained that we would be meeting some friends for dinner and then attending the evening gown competition. That was fine by me as any friend of hers is a friend of mine! We spent the afternoon walking around D.C. and catching up over lunch. It’s always great to spend time with trusted old friends and amazing that after a 30 year separation we could pick right up where we left off. Now, that’s a good friendship…but, I digress…
We returned to the hotel to get freshened up for the evening events. Taci made a couple calls and we headed down the elevator to meet her friend in the lobby. As it turned out, her friend was Judy Landers. One of the celebrity Landers sisters who had starred in several movies and television shows such as B.J. and the Bear and, Love Boat, Fantasy Island, among others. Judy was one of our childhood celebrities – many of us grew up watching the Landers sisters on the television as well as viewing them in magazines. Obviously, Kristy took after her mother and was very attractive. However, both turned out to be just as beautiful on the inside as the outside, as did many of the contestants that I chatted with throughout the pageant. Judy’s gorgeous daughter, Kristy, was Ms. Louisiana. What occurred to me during the event was what a full and exhausting event it was. Both mother and daughter were very focused on the pageant since Kristy was already ranked in the top 10. The ballroom competition went off without a hitch and it was an evening filled with lots of bright lights and glamour. It was amazing to me how poised the contestants could be regardless of the heat. The summer heat, coupled with the runway lights, made it extremely hot. Nonetheless, the pageant contestants smiled and nodded accordingly and carried on as if nothing was wrong. It was very interesting to get a glimpse into the Ms. World Pageant. It requires quite a commitment from the mothers, husbands and supporting personnel. As an event planner myself, I was observing all the behind the scenes preparation ranging from hair and make-up area to the technicians. As a Career Counselor, I like to take a look at all the roles required to help make the event a success! I also think it is interesting to see how people choose to spend their time as pageantry is not easy and it was obviously a way of life for them. |
From what I could tell she deserved it as she seemed to float down the runway with such elegance and charm. In fact, most of the contestants did very well. However, there was one moment when a contestant tripped several times, got tangled up in her dress and actually caught herself on the edge of the stage. There was a collective gasp from the audience and then an eruption of applause as she regained her composure and completed her waltz down the runway. It was so refreshing to see the human element of how they were all pulling for one another despite the fact that it was a competition. I noticed how the pageant director gracefully greeted that contestant at the end of the stage and escorted her down the stairs.
So, that concluded yet another interesting day. The next morning we said our goodbyes and headed separate directions. I located the McPherson Metro stop and boarded the train back to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley as they boarded a flight back to Sarasota. Of course, I met the most interesting lady from Iran on the Metro and we had such an engaging conversation the entire way to Vienna. Remember, each day is a new opportunity for an adventure…Carpe’ Diem!
Congratulations to Kristy who won the 3rd place runner-up!So, that concluded yet another interesting day. The next morning we said our goodbyes and headed separate directions. I located the McPherson Metro stop and boarded the train back to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley as they boarded a flight back to Sarasota. Of course, I met the most interesting lady from Iran on the Metro and we had such an engaging conversation the entire way to Vienna. Remember, each day is a new opportunity for an adventure…Carpe’ Diem!